Chapter Three: Audrey's shock
Raindrops fell from the sky and landed on Audrey Smith's face. The Raindrops mixed with the tears that had yet to fall, adding to the beauty of the little girl.
"There's no assassin. I was the one who cast that spell just now. Look at how scared you are."
Listening to Hughes's gentle explanation, Audrey subconsciously snuggled her head into Hughes' arms.
"It's good that there are no assassins. It's good that there are no assassins."
Audrey sobbed as she continued
"Brother, why don't you move back to the duke's residence and live with us?"
Hughes looked at Audrey and said, "Two years ago, if you hadn't gone out, I probably wouldn't be able to see you now."
Two years ago, there was an assassination attempt at the South Mountain Courtyard Hughes was in. Fortunately, Hughes hadn't been cultivating in the cultivation room at that time, so he had narrowly escaped death.
"Yes, I'm planning to move back. From now on, I'll be staying at home."
Hughes gently patted his sister's head and spoke gently.
"Actually, it's fine if you don't go back, but you have to agree to one condition of mine, and that is..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Audrey suddenly covered her mouth as she stared at Hughes in a daze.
"Brother, did I hear wrong? You've thought it through!"
Ever since the awakening ceremony three years ago, Hughes had never returned to the duke's residence.
He had locked himself in the south mountain courtyard and told his family that he wouldn't leave until he cast his first spell.
It was just as Hughes had said. Even after the assassination attempt, Hughes didn't leave the South Mountain Courtyard to return to the Duke's mansion, which was heavily guarded.
Helplessly, Duke Norton had no choice but to arrange another group of security forces for Hughes, which ensured Hughes's safety for the next two years.
During this period, Audrey had visited the South Mountain courtyard countless times and used various means to get her brother to come home with her.
However, Hughes had remained unmoved at that time. He had always been stubborn -- he would never return home without casting his first spell!
"Yay, I've finally managed to influence you. Our family can finally be reunited!"
Audrey pushed Hughes away and skipped while leading the way. She didn't look like a princess at all.
"Follow me closely. If you can't find the way, don't..."
Her voice came to an abrupt halt, and her skipping figure froze on the spot.
As her younger sister, Audrey knew her brother very well.
Ever since the trauma three years ago, her brother had become a completely different person. He locked himself in this courtyard all day long and practiced magic diligently.
With Hughes's character, he would never return to the Duke's mansion just because of her persuasion. There was only one reason for him to suddenly agree to her this time!
"Brother, you... you succeeded?"
"Did you really succeed in casting your magic?"
Audrey was born in a top noble family in the empire. She knew better than ordinary people how difficult it was for a person who had an inferior affinity with elements to cast a spell.
If the amount of mana needed for an ordinary mage to activate an element was one, then Hughes, who only had an inferior affinity with elements, would need to use one hundred mana to activate an element!
How difficult was this? This was the difficulty of hell!
Looking at his sister's expectant look, Hughes didn't say anything. Most of the time, actions were more powerful than words.
He smiled faintly and stretched out his finger. In the next moment, an ice-blue miniature magic array appeared at his fingertip.
"Water... water ball spell!"
As Audrey cried out in surprise, a water ball carrying a strong force and blasted a mountain rock on the mountain path into pieces.
"Yes, I succeeded!"
Hughes looked at his sister with a smile, his face full of love and pity.
In order to cultivate, he had truly neglected this little sister who had always cared about him these past few years.
Now, not only did he successfully mastered the water ball spell, but he had also awakened a system that could allow magic to cultivate automatically.
The grievances that he had accumulated for many years all disappeared on this day. At this moment, what Hughes wanted to do the most was to properly compensate his sister, to do his duty as an older brother!
Drip, drip..
Tears turned into raindrops and streaked across Audrey's exquisite little face. They fell to the ground and bloomed into crystal-clear water droplets.
"Brother, I knew you could do it. I knew it..."
Audrey leaned against her brother's chest as she cried tears of joy.
He's back. My Brother is finally back!
Three years ago, after Hughes suffered a heavy setback. The meticulous Audrey noticed the changes in her brother's heart.
Since then, the gentle Hughes, who was like a spring breeze, had disappeared, leaving behind a desperate shell.
In order to find her brother, Audrey had come to the South Mountain courtyard a few times a month over the past three years, trying to make Hughes happy. She hoped that she could bring Hughes back in such a way.
Fortunately, her years of perseverance had finally paid off. Her brother had finally returned!
"Brother!"
Audrey cried like a fountain!
"It's okay, it's okay..."
Hughes looked at his sister with great heartache. The past had surfaced in his heart.
He was not an iron hearted person. He would also feel lonely because of his bland magic practice.
If it weren't for Audrey's perseverance in coming to see him and changing ways to help him relieve his worries, he would have long been reduced to a walking corpse in the midst of endless failures.
"Come, let's go home."
"Yes, let's go home together."
..
Imperial City, Duke Tulip's residence.
"Miss, this is..."
When Hughes and Audrey walked to the front door of the duke's residence, the old gatekeeper didn't recognize Hughes for a moment. He looked at Hughes coldly with a vigilant expression.
Audrey was fourteen years old now. She had grown into a little beauty that was famous throughout the imperial capital.
As an old man in the Duke's mansion, the old gatekeeper felt that he had a responsibility and an obligation to help Miss Audrey drive away those detestable mosquitoes.
In the old man's view, Hughes was a detestable mosquito, one that was extremely detestable!
How dare this person hold Miss Audrey's Arm? How dare he!
No, I, Old John, will not allow this kid to continue taking advantage of Miss Audrey!
Let go of your perverted hands. Miss Audrey is not someone a gigolo like you can climb up to!
The old concierge felt a storm in his heart. However, his many years of experience as a concierge told him that this matter could not be rushed. He needed to take things slowly.
Therefore, he probed once again:
"Miss, who is this person? Why don't I remember master inviting such a guest?"
Today was the day Duke Tulip would hold a grand banquet for his guests before he left. As a concierge, it was his duty to identify the guests for his master.
"Brother, Old John is asking you. Quickly tell him who you are."
Audrey looked at Hughes with a teasing expression. As a quick-witted person, she could naturally hear the little thoughts in old John's words.
Brother? Since when did Miss Audrey have a brother?
Old John furrowed his brows as he stared at Hughes's face and began to think.
Oh? Young Master Hughes? It's actually young master Hughes!
No wonder! No wonder he could be so intimate Miss Audrey!
Thinking of Miss Audrey's destination today, Old John quickly guessed the identity of the person who had come. However, his mouth suddenly became disobedient, and even his tone when confirmating became shaky.
"Second young master... Young Master, it's really... it's really you!"
Hughes nodded in affirmation and looked at Old John with a smile.
Upon receiving Hughes's reply, Old John instantly fell into ecstasy.
"Happy News! It's a joyous occasion!"
"Young Master Hughes is back, the second young master is back!"
The old concierge didn't even look at the door. He turned around and ran towards the banquet hall while shouting and shouting.
In the hall, a middle-aged man who looked a little like Hughes listened attentively. After confirming several times, he stood up.